CHIN UP

Dear Young Corporate Person,

Actually, today this one is for me.

Note to self: I know there are days when you feel behind. Days when you look at your plans, your qualifications, your ambitions, and wonder why you are not where you thought you would be. I know there are moments when the gap between where you are and where you want to be feels bigger than your progress.

But pause for a second.

You may not be where you studied to be. You may not be where you hoped to be by now. But you are certainly not where you used to be.

So, chin up.

Be kind to your current self. This version of you is doing the heavy lifting. This version is carrying the disappointments, learning the lessons, gaining the experience, and building the resilience that your future self will be grateful for. In less than a decade, you’ll probably read this message again from an office, boardroom, or position you can’t fully imagine today.

Wining suits you, but growth does too.

I need you to keep your chin up so that when the next season arrives, you don’t show yo as your old self. Don’t let discouragement make you smaller. Don’t let temporary delays convince you that you’re standing still.

As Katiso said this morning “We are moving forward. The reverse gear is broken, so you have no choice but to move forward”

So for now, without becoming complacent, keep going. Keep learning. Keep showing up. Keep trusting God.

Chin up, Lerato.

Signed,

Lerato Moepye, Chief Executive Officer, 2036

PS: We made it child. The things that kept you awake at night eventually became stories you told to encourage other people.